Organic conjugation of graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites for boosted photocatalytic water splitting

The primary concerns for optimizing the photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are strengthening the visible light absorption and charging isolation. The pristine g-C3N4 exhibits limited photocatalytic performance, since it has a high level of defects in its framework. To address this issue, the simplest approach is to introduce an organic monomer benzisothiazolinone (BIT) with electron-withdrawing capabilities into the g-C3N4 framework using copolymerization process to improve its optical, electronics, conductive, and photocatalytic capabilities. The integration of BIT monomer within the g-C3N4 causes the & pi;-conjugated configuration to delocalize, as well as substantial modifications in its molecular electronic arrangement, band gap, surface area, and increased electron-hole pairs under visible light (& lambda; = 420 nm). As a consequence of such incorporation, our optimum sample such as g-C3N4/BIT10.0 generated a hydrogen (H2) evolution of 141.9 & mu;mol/ h1 and an oxygen (O2) evolution of 3.24 & mu;mol/h1, which are 15 and 5-fold than pure g-C3N4 sample. As a result, this study offers an appropriate modification technique for synthesizing and designing a unique g-C3N4/BITx base catalyst for organic photosynthesis, photoreduction of CO2 source, and H2O2 generation.